The Presidency has said President Bola Tinubu had long anticipated the brewing diplomatic friction with the United States over the recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) on alleged persecution of Christians, saying the President already acted proactively.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President’s decisive shake-up of the military hierarchy and his firm directives to the newly confirmed service chiefs showed he had acted ahead of the unfolding developments in Washington.
The Presidency’s position followed comments by US President Donald Trump suggesting that Washington might take “direct action” against governments accused of religious persecution — a statement that came barely a day after Nigeria’s CPC listing.
In a post on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, Onanuga wrote: “President Bola Tinubu was well ahead of the orchestrated game unfolding in America as he told the new service chiefs on Thursday what Nigerians expect of them. No more excuses, he said. Nigerians want results.”
He recalled that during Thursday’s decoration of the new service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu had warned against the rise of fresh armed groups in some regions and charged the military to crush emerging threats before they escalate.
Quoting the President, Onanuga said Tinubu told the commanders that: “Security threats are constantly evolving, constantly mutating. Of grave concern to our administration is the recent emergence of new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West and parts of the South. We must not allow these new threats to fester. We must be decisive and proactive. Let us smash the new snakes right in the head.”
The Presidency, however, maintained that the President’s stance reflected both foresight and readiness to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty in the face of any external provocation or attempt to pressure the country.
